The Body Coach Joe Wicks swapped his sports gear for a gown and graduation cap as he stepped up at Westminster Cathedral to receive a honorary degree for his role in helping Brits get fit and incredible charity work.
Dubbed the Nation's PE Teacher, due to his daily workout videos through lockdown, Joe has been handed an honorary doctorate in Sport and Exercise Science by St Mary’s University, Twickenham having graduated there in 2005.
Joe, 36, became a household name during 2020 and made it his mission to get people moving every day and raised over £580k for NHS charities during lockdown with his home work outs.
Later in 2020, Joe went on to raise over £2m for BBC Children in Need as he completed a 24-hour televised workout. Joe was awarded an MBE later in 2020 for his services to fitness and charity.
Speaking of the award, Joe said: "I feel so proud to have received an honorary doctorate from St Mary’s University.
"I loved every year of my time there studying sports science. It was the first time I felt excited to pursue a career in a something I was passionate about.
"I’ve maintained that love and passion for fitness and continue to do all I can to inspire others to live a healthier and happier life. Thank you to all the teachers and lecturers from St Mary’s who helped me get where I am today."
St Mary’s Vice-Chancellor Anthony McClaran said Joe was a 'role model' for the award — the first recipient since the University was granted Research Degree Awarding Powers.
He added: "His work on wellbeing, charity and education closely aligns with our core values of Excellence, Inclusiveness, Generosity of Spirit, and Respect, and we are proud of all he has achieved in his career so far."
Joe recently filmed BBC show Joe Wicks: Mental Health, My Family and Me with Louis Theroux, after the documentary maker made an impromptu impression of the fitness lover for which he later apologised over.
After listening to Wicks on the radio talk about his upbringing and parents' struggles, he was inspired to make ‘a profile of Joe Wicks.’
Theroux, who didn't appear in the programme but instead acted as executive producer, said the project was a 'dream' to work on with the show focusing on the fitness coach’s parents’ battles with OCD and heroin addiction.
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